Lancaster City Swimming & Water Polo – Development Water Polo Competition 2016 (12 years old & under) - Sunday 18th December 2016
Our 12&u water polo team travelled to Lancaster this weekend to take part in the ‘Lancaster City Swimming & Water Polo – Development Water Polo Competition 2016’. The team comprised; Louis, Sam, Chris, Lilly and James, with additional support from Josh and Torin from Stretford. Craig was assisted by Emily who had the team working hard,warming up between matches.
Warrington were drawn in Group B against some stiff opposition including, Bridgefield, City of Sheffield, Paragon and Chester. The group matches comprised four matches, each of two five-minute periods:
Match 1 – Chester v Warrington: Warrington started strong and took early possession. Following the exclusion of a Chester player for a foul, Louis immediately took advantage and scored the first goal of the match. Chester quickly came back with three successive goals, giving a half-time score of 3-1. Warrington started the second period well but unfortunately could not convert a penalty opportunity into a goal. Following a further two goals by Chester, Josh pulled a goal back For Warrington. Final Score 5 - 2 to Chester
Match 2 – Warrington v Paragon: Paragon took the lead in the first minute, but Warrington responded with two successive breaks which both resulted in goals by Louis. Towards the end of the period Warrington were under a little pressure but defended well. In the second period Warrington came out strong just missing a couple of opportunities before taking a further two goals by Sam and Louis. Warrington’s defence and goalie prevented any further goals from Paragon. Final Score 4 – 1 to Warrington
Match 3 – Bridgefield v Warrington: On paper this was always going to be Warrington’s toughest match yet Warrington put up a great fight despite dropping five goals in the first period. Spurred on by the half-time team talk, Warrington came out much stronger and, after a couple of missed shots on goal, Warrington took two goals in quick succession (both by Louis), the second being a penalty. Although Bridgefield took a further three goals in the second period, Warrington kept the score to a very respectable level. Final Score 8 – 2 to Bridgefield
Match 4 – Sheffield v Warrington: Sheffield fielded a very strong team a got an early goal with a long-ranged shot. Warrington responded with a similar shot on goal which just went over. Warrington kept the pressure on but conceded three further goals in the first period. Sheffield began the second period as they had ended the first, and despite taking a further eight goals, Warrington put up a good fight and frustrated several other shots on goal by Sheffield. Final Score 11 – 0 to City of Sheffield
At the end of the group matches, the positions were as follows:
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Group A |
Group B |
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1. Lancaster
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1. Bridgefield
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2. Tyldesley
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2. City of Sheffield
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3. Rotherham
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3. Chester
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4. Liverpool
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4. Warrington
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5. Radcliffe
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5. Paragon
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The top two teams of each group competed for the Cup Competition, whilst the remaining six teams competed for the Plate Competition. The remaining matches were extended to two seven-minute periods.
Match 5 – Rotherham v Warrington: The first period started evenly balanced. Rotherham took an early lead before Warrington equalised from a goal by Louis. James was unlucky to have a goal disallowed. Rotherham regained the lead but Warrington immediately equalised. Rotherham then took a further three goals just before the end of the period. The second half started with two alternate goals from both teams. James got both Warrington goals; the first from a free pass and the second from a long break down the pool. Despite losing a further couple of goals to Rotherham, Warrington were unlucky not to convert a couple of chances near goal. Final Score 9 – 4 to Rotherham
Match 6 – Warrington v Liverpool: The final match saw both teams very closely matched. Both teams had several shots on goal, but owing to good defence work on both sides, the period finished 1-1. Liverpool were unlucky not to score just after the whistle had blown for end of time. The second period carried on as the first had ended, with both teams scoring alternately, and it was only at the end of the second period that Liverpool managed to get an extra two goals. Final Score 4 – 6 to Liverpool
The final result put Warrington fourth out of six teams in the Plate competition. Overall, Warrington put up a great effort, bearing in mind there was just seven of them, leaving only one substitute at any one time. Well done Louis, Sam, Chris, Lilly, James, Josh and Torin.